Sometimes a book, or even just a line, chapter or passage within a book can stick with us long after we’ve read its final page.  We asked some of our favorite community members to tell us about a book that’s had a meaningful impact on them.

Megan Fowler | Artist

If I am being honest, I don’t sit down and read books very often, but I do binge listen to different E-books several times a week while painting. I really enjoy art history novels and artists’ biographies. A recent book I devoured that has really stuck with me is Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear, and Why. It presented very interesting issues, some of which I had previously experienced and some that I had never considered. Read more>>

Alexis Stewart |Photographer & Educator

I have had the opportunity to read many books over the last 12 months that have been impactful in my life. I’ve read: We’re Going To Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union Becoming by Michelle Obama How Happiness Happens by Max Lucado The Path Made Clear by Oprah Winfrey Let Love Have The Last Word by Common Born A Crime by Trevor Noah Although I’d like to pretend I sit with a book flipping through. Read more>>

Natrice Miller | Photographer

One of the books that had a major impact on my life was a book I read as a child called Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Thompson. I read it when I was in the 6th grade (on my own, not for a class; I was a bookworm) and it really stuck with me. I loved that book so much I would tell everyone I knew about it (although none of the other kids seemed to really care). Narrated by a nine year old black girl living in Mississippi, the book explores themes of family, racism and the black experience during the Great Depression. Read more>>

Emily Nuckols | Artist and Creator of Emily Yellow

E-Squared by Pam Grout was a game changing book for me. Her experiment guidelines opened my eyes to notice what is available to all of us. Her words helped me look for the opportunities that were right there all along. Slowly I started to see a path of awareness back to my creative side. I am a believer in my own personal manifest destiny as it is my irresistible desire to create and share with others who I am and what I am about. Read more>>

Karen Derr | Creative Fitness Enthusiast

Currently I’m reading books regarding my finances and how to save and investment. I recently read The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich By David Bach ( Dollar Tree find) it was very inspiring and an easy quick read with simple rules that can guide anyone start saving. Saving and improving my finances is very important to me and can be overwhelming since I’m no totally sure how to go about it when you have limited funds to save. Read more>>